Danish Cycling Union shocked after board member tests positive

Svenningsen resigns from national federation after three banned substances detected

Having taken a tough line in the past on anti-doping matters involving Michael Rasmussen and others, the Danish Cycling Union has been put in the embarrassing position of one of its own board members testing positive.

The 47 year old Soren Svenningsen tested positive for three banned substances at a veterans’ race in June. He was the owner of the former Team Capinordic squad.

“On June 30, veteran cyclist Soren Svenningsen tested positive in a doping test in a Danish H40 race. The sample showed traces of two different glucocorticoids and testosterone,” the DCU statement said.

Its president Tom Lund said that he was ‘deeply shocked’ at the news. “We stand for a clear and consistent doping position in the DCU. That a leader in Danish cycling who is also a board member of DCU tested positive, and thus breaks our trust, is inexcusable,” he said.

“As president of DCU, I would like to emphasize that our anti-doping line will continue to be sharp and consistent, and we will continue to hunt down cheats.” He said that he considered it necessary to also test in the veterans’ age category.

Lund said that Svenningsen would resign immediately from the board and also from his position as chair of the Holte Cycling club.

Potentially even more damaging is the news that he is a board member of the Clearidium anti-doping agency, run by Rasmus Damsgaard.

The company previously did work for the UCI but, according to Sporten.Dk, it now provides some services for the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Svenningsen’s guilt doesn’t imply malpractice by the company, but will be deeply embarrassing to it.